In 2021 the Callide C Power Station experienced a unit failure that tore the turbine-generator apart, resulted in hundreds of thousands of premises losing power, and cost hundreds of millions to repair. We look at how design errors and ultimately a lack of information led to the incident escalating out of control, when it could have been recovered.
With John Chidgey.
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Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.
Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Lesley, Jared Roman, Joel Maher, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto and Ian Gallagher.
With John Chidgey.
Formal Reports:
- Callide Unit C4 Turbine Generator Failure 25 May 2021 (PDF)
- Animation of the Callide Unit C4 incident
- Trip of multiple generators and lines in Central Queensland and associated under-frequency load shedding on 25 May 2021 (PDF)
News Releases and Articles:
- CS Energy releases report into 2021 Callide C4 Unit Failure
- CS Energy releases technical report into 2021 Unit C4 incident
- Dr Sean Brady to lead independent investigation into Callide incident
- Battery failure led to power plant mass outage
- Both units trip at Callide C on Wednesday 13th January 2021
- Statement regarding IG Power
- Intergen voluntary administration
- Report says Callide C4 incident “could not have been anticipated”
- Callide explosion blamed on battery charger failure
- Callide Power Trading taken to court over system failure
- CS Energy says insurers won’t agree to $300m claim over power station
- Jim Soorley stands down from CS Energy
- CS Energy Post about Incident on LinkedIn
Super-Critical Boilers:
Electrical Engineering References:
Court Action:
- Alleged failure to obtain regulatory approval to operate a generating system
- Notice of Filing: Australian Energy Regulator v Callide Power Trading Pty Ltd (PDF)
- Coal generator to face court over blackouts caused by catastrophic explosion
General Information:
- Callide Power Station
- Stanwell Power Station
- Tarong Power Station
- Callide Power Station
- CS Energy: Water Management
NOTE: Minor Corrections in audio updated: 31st March, 2024
Support Causality on Patreon
Episode Gold Producers: 'r' and Steven Bridle.
Episode Silver Producers: Mitch Biegler, Shane O'Neill, Lesley, Jared Roman, Joel Maher, Katharina Will, Chad Juehring, Kellen Frodelius-Fujimoto and Ian Gallagher.
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